Engine



Jan. 19, 1965 w. c. coNovER ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18, 1962 W. C. CONOVER Jan.'l9, 1965 ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 18, 1962 INVENTOR /ef/v C (aA/arf? BY Mw@ AJM y A@ ,/rrmwfyf.

IHN

United States Patent 3,166,054 ENGINE Warren C. Conover, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to Outboard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 224,350 14 Claims. (Cl. 123-55) The invention relates generally to multi-cylinder, internal combustion engines. More particularly, the invention relates to six cylinder, V engines having a 90 degree included angle between the cylinder banks which provide the V form.

The invention provides a 90 degree V, internal combustion engine including two banks of three cylinders each wherein adjacent pairs of cylinders are oppositely acting, i.e., are alternately red at intervals corresponding to 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Such an arrangement is specically advantageous with a two stroke engine wherein each cylinder has an associated separate crank case Ythrough which a combustion air-fuel mixture is pumped by reason of piston reciprocation. More specifically, the arrangement permits use of a three throat carburetor or other combustion air intake `wherein each throat serves one pair of adjacent oppositely acting cylinders. 'As a result, each throat operates to pass the main portion of a charge of combustion air at intervals corresponding to 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation. The invention also provides, in association with the above features, an engine wherein the cylinders of each' bank are fired at intervals corresponding to 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation, thereby obtaining balanced operation in eachbank,rand consequent overall balance.

The invention further provides tir-ingorderswherein the cylinder banks alternately ire at even intervals corresponding to 60 degrees of crankshaft rotation, thereby distributing ,asl uniformly as possible the flow of power to the' crankshaft and flywheel. In addition, as one of the cylinders isred for each 60 degrees of crankshaft rotation and as the ring Vin each bank occurs at intervals corresponding to 120 degrees ofl crankshaft rotation, the exhaust flow is distributed as uniformly as possible both when utilizing a single exhaust manifold and when the exhaust is dischargedfrom each bank to a separate manifold.

To carry out these objectives,l the crankshaft isV designed, toeifect the desired action in the cylinders. In

the preferred embodimenn'each pair of crank pins as-V sociated with adjacent cylinders in each bank are angularly displaced 9()v degrees from each other, while each pair o f such crankV pins is displaced 120 degrees from each of the other two pairs of crank pins. As will be described hereinafter, the advantages of the invention can be obtained utilizing at least two dierent crankshaft congurations and two respectively associated firing orders.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken gen` erally along line-3 3 of FIGURE 1;

.FIGURE 4 is a partially diagrammatic sectionaliview taken generally along line 4 4 of FIGURE l and 4show- A ing one embodiment of a crankshaft providing various of the features of the invention; Y

i second embodiment of a crankshaft providing various of the features ofthe invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a partially diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the Vcrank pins associated with the crankshaft shown in'FIGURE 6. i

The engine 111 shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 conventionally includes a V type engine block 113 including two cylinder banks 115 and 117 disposed at an included angle of degrees to each other. Each of the cylinder banks and 117 includes three cylinders in aligned series with engine bank 115 including cylinders 1, 3, and 5, and with engine bank 117 including cylinders 2, 4, and 6 in respective generally adjacent opposing relation to cylinf ders 1, 3, and 5. Each of the cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4', 5, and 6 has movable therein respective pistons (only pistons 11 and 21 being shown in the drawings in FIGURE 2), each of which pistons is pivotally connected to respective separate piston rods (only piston rods 12 and 22 being shown in the drawings in FIGURE 2). In turn, the piston rods are each connected to a common crank-r shaft 119.

As various of the advantages obtained by the disclosed invention are generally'related to two-stroke, spark ignition engines, each of the cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 includesan exhaust port (only. exhaust ports 13 and 23 being shown in the drawings nFIGURE 2), and a generally diametrically oppositely located transfer port (only transfer ports 13a and 23a being shown in the drawings in FIGURE 2) communicating with respective crankcases 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, amd64 (see FIGURE 4) which extend from the respectivecylinders 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 and which are generally closed except for respective valved ports (only ports 15 and 25 being shown in the drawings in FIGURE 3) through which a combustion air or combustion air-fuel mixture is introduced. As will be seen,

one specific advantage ofthe disclosed engineconguration is its applicability for use with either a single three throat carburetor, or other combustion air intake, or with three separate carburetors, or other combustion air intakes, rather than with separate throats or carburetors for each crankcase.V Accordingly, there is shown in FIGURE l three separate combustion-air intakes 201, 202, and 203, each including respective throats 204, 205, and 206. If desired, throats 204, 205, and 206 could connect with a single combustion `air supply manifold preferably provided with an air cleaner as shown at 207 in FIGURE 2. It is broadly immaterial to the present invention whether the air is carbureted at the manifold or in the respective air intakes or by direct vfuel injection into the respective cylindersl A v Y Unless the operation is by compression-induced or hot spot ignition, according to the Diesel principle, suitable ignition means is provided including a .distributor 121 (see FIGURE l) which is connected with respective spark plugs (only plugs 16 and 26 being shown inV FIGURE 2 and plugs 26, 46, and 66 being shown in FIGURE 1) located in cylinders l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, whereby the firing Y specically disclosed construction, shown in FIGURE 4,

Patented Jan. 19, 1965 i n ected, injany suitable manner, the associated piston rods.

The crank pins are arrangedon the crankshaft 119,

shown in FIGURES 4 through 7, so that each pair of generally adjacent opposing cylinders,1i.e., cylinders 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6, are oppositely acting, Le., re at intervals corresponding Vto 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation, and so, that one cylinder'is iired for every 6l) degrees of cnankshaft rotation alternately from each bank, with the cylinders in eachbank tiring at even intervals, i.e., for

each`120 degrees of crankshaft rotation. The-arrangement of the crank pins toprovide for oppositely acting pairs. of cylinders, permits the association with each pail of cylindersfof a single throat from a multi-throat carburetor, or other combustion air intake. Thus each carburetor or throat serves to pass a major portion of a combustion air or combustion-air-to-fuel mixture charge at intervals corresponding, to 180 degrees of crankshaftV rotation.

At least twocrankpin arrangements, and associated ring'orders, can be employed. In the embodiment'v shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the crank pin 17 can be consideredV as establishing a3 reference mark relative to vwhich the other crank pins are offset-about the axis of the crankshaft 119.V As usual Yall crank pins are at like radius. Specically, crank -pin- 27 is angularly displaced from crank pin- 17 by approximatelyV 270 degrees when viewed in the clockwise direction as seen inFlGURE 5;

Y carburetor throat.

4 adjacent pairs of cylinders including one cylinder in each bank are alternately acting, permitting supply of conibustion air to the associated crankcases througha single In addition, use of the disclosed crankshaft congurations permits iiring every 6() degrees of crankshaft rotation and'ring, in each bank, at 120 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Thus, there is provided a crankshaft configuration for a 90 degree V six engine affording balanced operationV and permitting use of three separate carburetor throats, each supplying a charge of combustion air or a charge of combustion air-fuel for every 180 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Y

l Various of the features of the invention are set. forth in the following claims.` Y

What is claimed is:

1. A V type internal combustion engine includinga first cylinder bank including, in series, first, third and fth crank. pin 4.17 isangularly displaced from crank pin 17 by about 240 degrees in the clockwise direction; crank-pin 47 is angularly displaced from crank pin 17 by approxi imately IOdegreesinv the clockwise direction; crank pin g 5'7 is angularly displacedfromfcrank pin 17'by about Y120 degrees in the clockwise direction; and crank pin 67V is angularly displaced from cnank-pin 171 by about 30 degrees in the clockwise direction.. Thus, as can be readily ob- I served, the respective crank pins 17 and 27, 37 and 47, and.57 and 67 for each pair` of oppositely acting cylinders 1. and'2,*3 and 4, and 5 and6, are located at 90 Vdegrees from each other. When using the crankshaft 119 .withA the crank. pin arrangement just described, the ldistributor is adjusted to re the ycylinders in the following order: 1-63-2-5'-4.` r l i In theembodirnentvshown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the crank pin 17' can be considered as establishing a reference mark relative to'which the other crank pins are olfset angularly about the axis of the crankshaft 119': Speciiically, crank pin 27' is angularly; displaced from crank pin 17"by approximately l270 degrees when viewed inn by'approximately 150 degrees in the clockwise direction.

Thus, as in the embodiment shown in FlGURES 4 and 5, the respective crank pins 17 andV 27', 37 and 47', and

57 and 67' for each pair of oppositely acting cylinders l 1' and 2', 3' and 4', andS' and 6', are located lat 90 degrees from each other. In operation, theembodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is employed with an engineV having aliring order of l4-5-2-3-6. `Both of the disclosed crankshaft configurations permi operation of a 90 degree V six cylinder engine to that cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in series, second, fourth, and sixth cylinders, saidbanks being disposed at an angle of degrees relative to each other, a separate piston reciprocably movable in each of said cylinders, a pistonrod extending from each of said pistons, a crankshaft including means connectingfsaid piston rods to said crankshaft for effecting, with respect to crankshaft rotation, oppositely directed piston movement throughout the piston stroke in said first and second cylinders, in said thirdY and fourth cylinders, and in said lifth and sixth `cylinders, and for effectingY balanced operation of the cylinders in eachof said banks.y l l r I 2. A V type internal combustion engine including a rst cylinder'bank including, series, first, third, and iifth cylinder, a second cylinder bank including', in series, Sec-f ond, fourth and sixth cylinders, said banks being disposed at an angle of 90 degrees relative to each other, aseparat piston reciprocably movable .in said cylinders, a crank= shaft comprising means including a piston rod connecting' each of saidpistons with said crankshaft for sequentially Vdisposingone'of saidrsecond and'sixth pistons adjacent;V

top dead center next after arrival of said third cylinder at top dead center, for'disposing one of said rst andV fifth pistons adjacent top dead center next after arrival of said fourth cylinder at top dead center, for disposing one of said second and fourth pistons adjacent top dead center next afterV arrival of said lifth cylinderrat top dead center, and for disposing one of said-third and irst pistons adjacent top dead center next after arrival of said sixthcylinder at top dead center.

` 3. A V type internal combustion engine including first cylinder bank including, in series, rst, third, and.

fifth cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in series,

separate piston reciprocably movable in each of said cyl-l inders, a crankshaft, a separate piston rod extendingfrom each of said pistons to said crankshaft, and means for' sequentially disposing the pistons respectively associated with said iirst, sixth, third, second, lifth, and fourth cylinders adjacent top dead center at intervals corresponding.

to 60 degrees of crankshaft rotation and for sequentially firing said first, sixth, third, second, lifth, and fourth cyl- Vinders when their respectively associated pistons are adjacent top dead center. Y

4. A V: type internal combustion engine including a first cylinder bank including, in series, first, third, and

lifth'cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in series,

second, fourth, and sixth cylinders, said banks beingdisposed at-an angleof 90 degrees relative to each other, a

5. separate piston reciprocably movable in each of said cylinders, a crankshaft, a separate piston rod extending from each of said pistons to said crankshaft, and means for sequentially disposing the pistons respectively associated with said rst, fourth, fifth, second, third and sixth cylinders adjacent top dead center at intervals corresponding to 60 degrees of crankshaft rotation and for sequentially firing said first, fourth, fifth, second, third and sixth cylinders when their respectively associated pistons are adjacent Iltop dead center.

5. A six cylinder, V-type, two cycle, internal combustion engine comprising an engine block including a first cylinder bank including, in aligned series, first, third, and fifth cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in aligned series, second, fourth, and sixth cylinders in respectively generally adjacently opposing position to said first, third, and fifth cylinders, said second bank being disposed at an included angel of 90 degrees relative to said first bank, and a crankshaft having, in series, first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth crank pins, said pins being connected to said pistons operable respectively in said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cylinders, said second crank pin being angularly offset from said first crank pin by 270 degrees in one rotative direction, said third crank pin being angularly offset from said rst pin by 240 degrees in said one rotative direction, said fourth crank pin being angularly offset from said first pin by 150 degrees in said one rotative direction, said fifth crank pin being angularly offset from said first pin by 120 degrees in said one rotative direction, and said sixth crank pin being angularly offset from said first pin by 30 degrees in said one rotative direction.

6. An engine in accordance with claim wherein said engine block includes a crankcase part having generally cylindrical wall portions located between adjacent cylinders and said crankshaft includes disc-shaped throws at least partially supporting each of said crank pins and c0- operating with said wall portions to define a separate crankcase for each of said cylinders and to prevent gaseous ow between adjacent crankcases.

7. A six cylinder, V-type, two cycle, internal combusion engine comprising an engine block including a first cylinder bank including, in aligned series, first, third, and fifth cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in aligned series, second, fourth, and sixth cylinders in respectively generally adjacently opposing position to said first, third, and fifth cylinders, said second bank being disposed at an included angle of 90 degrees relative to said first bank, and a crankshaft having, in series, rst, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth crank pins, said pins being connected to pistons operable respectively in said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cylinders, said second crank pin being angularly offset from said first crank pin by 270 degrees in one rotative direction, said third crank pin being angularly offset from said first pin by 120 degrees in said one rotative direction, said fourth crank pin being angularly offset from said first pin by 30 degrees in said one rotative direction, said fifth crank pin being angularly offset from said first pin by 240 degrees in said one rotativedirection, and said sixth crank pin being angularly offset from said first crank pin by 150 degrees in said one rotative direction.

8. An engine in accordance with claim 7 wherein said engine block includes a crankcase part having generally cylindrical wall portions located between adjacent cylinders and said crankshaft includes disc-shaped throws at least partially supporting each of said crank pins and co-operating with said wall portions to define a separate crankcase for each of said cylinders and to prevent gaseout fiow between adjacent crankcases.

9. A V type internal combustion engine including a first cylinder bank including, in series, first, third, and fifth cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in series, second, fourth, and sixth cylinders, said second bank being disposed at an angle of 90 degrees relative to said first bank,`a separate crankcase extending fromeach of able in each of said cylinders, a separate pistonfrod ,ex--

tending from each of said pistons, a crankshaft extending through said crankcases and including means vc011- necting said piston rods to said crankshaft for effecting,

with respect to crankshaft rotation, opposite action of said first and second cylinders, of said third and fourth cylinders, and of said fifth and sixth cylinders, and for effecting balanced operation of the cylinders in each of said banks, and a separate combustion air intake communicating with said pressure responsive valve means associated with said crankcases extending from each of 'a first pair of said cylinders including said rst and second cylinders, a second pair of said cylinders including said third and fourth cylinders, and a third pair of said cylinders including said fifth and sixth cylinders.

10. A V type internal combustion engine including a first cylinder bank including, in series, first, third and fifth cylinders, a second cylinder bank including, in series, second, fourth, and sixth cylinders, said banks being disposed at an angle of degrees relative to each other, a separate piston reciprocably movable in each of said cylinders, a piston rod extending from each of said pistons, a crankshaft including means connecting said piston rods to said crankshaft for effecting, with respect to crankshaft rotation, oppositely directed piston movement throughout the piston stroke in said first and secondrcylinders, in said third and fourth cylinders, and in said fifth and sixth cylinders, and for effecting balanced operation of the cylinders in each of said banks, and means for supplying combustion air to said cylinders in equence corresponding to, and prior to, arrival of the respective pistons at top dead center.

1l. A crankshaft having, in series, a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth crank pin, each pin being disposed in parallel relation to the rotational axis of said crankshaft, said first and second pins being spaced substantially at 90 degrees from each other, said third and V fourth pins being spaced substantially at 90 degrees from each other, said fifth and sixth pins being spaced substantially at 9() degrees from eachother, said first, third, and fifth pins being ,spaced substantially at degrees from each other, and said second, fourth, and sixth pins' being spaced substantially at 120 degrees from each other.

l2. A crankshaft in accordance with claim 1l including disk-shaped throws connecting the adjacent ends of said first and second crank pins, of said third and fourth crank pins, and of said fifth and sixth crank pins.

13. A crankshaft having, in series, a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth crank pin, each pin being disposed in parallel relation to the rotational axis of said crankshaft, said second crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angle of 270 degrecs measured in one rotative direction about the crankshaft axis, said third crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angle of 240 degrees measured in said one rotative direction, said fourth crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angle of degrees measured in said one rotative direction, said fifth crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angle of 120 degrees measured in said one rotative direction, and said sixth crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angle of 30 degrees measured in said one rotative direction.

14. A crankshaft having, in series, a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth crank pin,-each pin being disposed in parallel relation to the rotational axis of said crankshaft, said second crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angle of 270 degrees measured in one rotative direction about the crankshaft axis, said third crank pin being located relative to said first crank pin at an angl-erof 1,20 degrees measured in said'one roj tativedirection, said fourth crank pin being located rela-` tive toV said1rstcrank pinfat an angley of 30 degrees measurediny said one rotative direction, said fifthV crank pin being located relative -to said Ijrst crankpinV at `an anglerof KA240 degrees measured in said one rotativedirectionQand said sixth crank pin beingl located relative to said first crank pin at anV angle of 150 degrees measured in said one rotative direction.l Y

References Citedv in the inile of this patent f UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,752"Y Trre". Mar. 7, 1961 '5 V3,105,474 Y VfKiekaeferYV Oct. 1, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 

1. A V TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INCLUDING A FIRST CYLINDER BANK INCLUDING, IN SERIES, FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH CYLINDERS, A SECOND CYLINDER BANK INCLUDING, IN SERIES, SECOND, FOURTH, AND SIXTH CYLINDERS, SAID BANKS BEING DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE OF 90 DEGREES RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, A SEPARATE PISTON RECIPROCABLY MOVABLE IN EACH OF SAID CYLINDERS, A PISTON ROD EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID PISTONS, A CRANKSHAFT INCLUDING MEANS CONNECTING SAID PISTON RODS TO SAID CRANKSHAFT FOR EFFECTING, WITH RESPECT TO CRANKSHAFT ROTATION, OPPOSITELY DIRECTED PISTON MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PISTON STROKE IN SAID FIRST AND SECOND CYLINDERS, IN SAID THIRD AND FOURTH CYLINDERS, AND IN SAID FIFTH AND SIXTH CYLINDERS, AND FOR EFFECTING BALANCED OPERATION OF THE CYLINDERS IN EACH OF SAID BANKS. 